‘Stop All The Clocks’, from ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ is now a Song. The long wait is over, W H Auden’s crushingly sad, grief poem has finally been set to music by emerging singer songwriter, Nemo Shaw.

This track is available for download today. Visit ‘Stop all the clocks‘ website and prepare to be moved! Many people first heard John Hannah reciting ‘Stop All The Clocks’ in the 1994 film ‘Four Weddings And A Funeral’. His reading has become known to many as the ‘saddest moment in a movie ever’. The Scottish actor gave the performance of his career, as he tried to express the inexpressible, and managed to convey the all-consuming pain contained in the original poem.

‘Stop All The Clocks’ or ‘Funeral Blues’ as it is also known, is the mourning poem, and has been begging for a tune for many years. Nemo Shaw is a 33 yr old Scots-born singer-songwriter and his composition is simple and gentle. It has a soothing lullaby quality to it, as well as an endearing Scottish lilt, reminiscent of John Hannah’s performance.

I recently met someone who works in a terminal ward and attends the funerals of all the patients who pass through her care. I asked her, what makes a good funeral? “Music”, she replied. Its not the answer I expected, but having thought about it, I think I agree.

I remember hearing ‘Ave Maria’ sung by a choir member at a church funeral. It was the most beautiful haunting sound of an angel lamenting the death of a loved one. All who heard it were bound together in that moment and transported to a place where tears could flow freely and deep sorrow was tangible. It was a magnificent, heartfelt tribute that I will never forget.

I recently attended an outdoor funeral with a marquee and PA system which played the deceased’s favourite song ‘Heal the world by Michael Jackson’ and several other beautiful sentimental songs inbetween speeches, readings and poems. Music filled the empty spaces with beauty and seemed to pull the whole emotional ceremony together.

Beautiful music reaches our deepest emotional core and has the ability to move us quite powerfully. Music is universal, it crosses cultural, geographic and language barriers. Funeral Guide has gathered a list of songs for funerals to give ideas of what you might choose to play at a funeral or you can just listen to them as you remember those you love and miss.